The document provides an update on various topics including World Mental Health Day, which focuses on depression this year, and the start of the Essex Unite employment programme for disabled people run by ecdp. It also announces that Esther McVey has been appointed as the new Minister for Disabled People and discusses two government documents on fulfilling the potential of disabled people.

1. October 2012
This update includes
Monthly Bulletin 41 articles on the following
topics:
Dear Members,
Today is World Mental Health Day, an
international event to raise awareness of mental ecdp news
health issues. Each year the event it themed,
giving the day a particular focus. The theme for 1. Essex Unite – a unique
World Mental Health Day this year is depression. employment
You can read more about this in the article on programme for disabled
page 13 and on the ecdp website. people – begins!
2. ecdp running free
Last week was a very exciting one for ecdp. On training for disabled
Monday morning, 15 disabled people started the employers and their
Essex Unite programme, a unique, peer-led work PAs in Thurrock
experience and training scheme run by ecdp.  Empowering the
employer
The programme is designed to support disabled  Personal Assistant
people to apply their skills and gain essential Training
experience in the workplace. Run in partnership
with MITIE and funded by Jobcentre Plus, ecdp
will be working with the 15 successful candidates local news
throughout the next 6 weeks, during which they
will be working in various businesses across the 3. SNAKE Essex
county. 4. Essex County Council
simplify bus pass
After months of planning we were very excited to application v
begin the programme with a training week at 5. News from Zinc Arts
ecdp’s offices. You can read all about the training  Unique film night at
week on page 3 of this bulletin and will be able to Zinc Arts – part of
follow the progress of the participants on the the Oska Bright
ecdp website. festival
 Zinc Arts: Creative
Best wishes, Plus Programme
6. Essex Carers Network
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41 Page 1 of 22

2. Monthly Bulletin 41 – October 2012
Faye Savage
Lived Experience Officer
We welcome member contributions to the
bulletin, our website and the ecdp
magazine. If you would like to write
something, or comment on any of the
articles in this edition of the bulletin, please
get in touch with us using the details below.
If you have missed a previous email
bulletin, they are all available on our
website: ecdp monthly email bulletin.
Telephone: 01245 392 300
Email: info@ecdp.org.uk
Post: Ivan Peck House, 1 Russell Way,
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3AA
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 2 of 22

3. ecdp news
Essex Unite – a unique employment
programme for disabled people –
begins!
Essex Unite is an employment programme for disabled people, run in
a partnership between ecdp and the private sector company MITIE.
ecdp is aware that many disabled people face increased disadvantage
in a difficult job market. Many have the relevant skills and expertise,
but lack experience. Essex Unite is designed to address this, by
enabling people to consolidate their skills and demonstrate their ability
to use them in the workplace.
The programme is unique in many ways:
 The programme is peer-led by disabled people, ensuring that the
specific barriers disabled people face in the workplace and when
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41 Page 3 of 22

4. ecdp news
job hunting, are understood and addressed.
 Each Essex Unite participant is matched with a workplace suitable
to both their aspirations and support needs.
 The programme includes additional training before and after the
work placement. This aims to support people build their
confidence, think about how to overcome barriers they have
faced, strengthen their customer service and people skills and
much more.
 Participants are offered peer support before, during and after the
work placement. Each participant is matched with a ‘buddy’ at
ecdp and has a point of contact in their workplace, ensuring they
are supported throughout.
Last week, the first ever Essex Unite group started the programme
with a week of training at ecdp’s offices. ecdp staff were joined by
trainers from MITIE and delivered a range of activities and training to
support the ‘Essex Uniters’ prior to them starting their work
placements.
The diverse group includes people with a variety of experiences and
impairments. Some are newly out of education and have never had a
job; others have been through a period of unemployment due to
acquiring an impairment later in life. However, all were very
enthusiastic and positive about getting back into the workplace.
We will be following the participants throughout the programme in the
email bulletin and you can also read a day-by-day account of activities
so far on the Essex Unite blog page: www.ecdp.co.uk/Essex-Unite.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 4 of 22

5. ecdp news
ecdp running free training for disabled
employers and their PAs in Thurrock
ecdp and Thurrock Borough Council are running two free training
courses, for disabled people who employ staff and for their Personal
Assistants. Details of both courses are below:
Empowering the Employer: Training for disabled people who employ
personal assistants.
This peer-led workshop covers a range of skills needed as a PA
employer, including:
 Rights and needs – examining how Human Rights and physical
and emotional needs are linked and why it is important to get
your needs met.
 Resolution – resolving difficult situations and elements of
compromise when managing a PA.
 Behavioural types – approaches to working with different types
of people.
 How disciplinary and dismissal procedures work – what you
need to have in place.
 Appropriate record keeping – A list of legal and necessary
paperwork needed to maintain Direct Payments/Personal
Budgets.
The training for employers will be repeated two more times on 22
November and 21 January and will start at 10.30 and end at 15.30.
Personal Assistant Training: Training for Personal Assistants who
support disabled or older people.
This workshop covers a range of information and skills needed as a
PA, including:
 Equality Act 2010 – basics of act and how it relates to being a
PA.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
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6. ecdp news
 Safeguarding – recognising abuse and what you can do to stop
it.
 Employer’s responsibilities – the responsibilities of your
employer to you as their employee.
 Best working practice – good practice and how you can be a
great PA.
 Lone working – risks and how to keep safe.
 Dignity in care – what is dignity and why it is important in PA
work?
The training for Personal Assistants will be repeated two more
times, on 23 November and 23 January and will start at 10.30 and
end at 15.30.
If you or your PA are interested in participating, please contact Faye
Savage at ecdp: 01245 214 023 or email: fsavage@ecdp.co.uk.
Could you be an ecdp Trustee?
Could you help set the strategic direction at ecdp – a leading
Disabled People’s User Led Organisation (DPULO) – which
serves, and represents, the interests of disabled people in Essex
and beyond?
We are a charity and company limited by guarantee and are
looking for people to join our existing Board of Trustees/Directors.
To find out more, please contact the Companies and Charity
Secretary, Margaret Watchorn (mwatchorn@ecdp.org.uk ) or
telephone 07546 597044.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 6 of 22

7. ecdp news
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 7 of 22

8. local news
SNAKE Essex
Snake Essex is a group being developed by parents who have
children with additional needs. The group hopes to grow to help
families with special needs children in Essex.
Snake meet on Monday’s from 3.30pm to 7pm fortnightly. They use
Stay and Play’s indoor play centre with fantastic facilities including a
large indoor play frame, low level soft play, cafe area and meeting
rooms. A new sensory area will be coming soon.
Sometimes you may want someone to listen, someone to talk to about
your concerns or problems or sometimes just someone with whom to
share an adult conversation with. Snake hope to achieve this and
much more with our new parents group.
Their aims are to inform, encourage and support parents and children,
so that they can grow in strength and knowledge and become better
equipped to give the best possible help to their children.
If you are an Essex parent of a child with a special need or disability
and you would like more information you can get in touch by emailing
info@s-n-a-k-e.co.uk.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41 Page 8 of 22

9. local news
Essex County Council simplify bus
pass application
Essex County Council has announced a new centralised system
for bus pass applications, aiming to offer residents an improved,
consistent service across the county.
From Monday 1 October, Essex residents who are applying for
an older persons or disabled persons bus pass for the first time
need to apply to Essex County Council. Residents can apply by;
 Downloading an application form from www.canigetapass.org.uk
 Collecting an application form from their local libraries
 Calling 0845 200 0388 for an application form or for assistance
completing one
Current pass holders who have passes due for renewal will be
automatically sent replacements, rather than having to reapply.
However, if pass holders have moved since their current pass was
issued they should contact ECC on buspass.team@essex.gov.uk or
by calling 0845 200 0388.
Pass holders with severe disabilities are also entitled to a companion
pass, allowing free travel on registered local bus services for one extra
person accompanying them.
County Councillor Derrick Louis, Cabinet Member for Highways and
Transportation said:
We’ve been working closely with District and Borough and City
Councils to ensure that a centralised system will deliver an
improved and consistent service across the county, as well as
providing customers with more support to complete applications.
For more information contact Louise Alabaster in Communications on
01245 434216 or email louise.alabaster@essex.gov.uk. You can read
the answers to a number of Frequently Asked Questions here: bus
pass FAQs.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 9 of 22

10. local news
ecdp pass clients: you can now receive your account statements
by email.
In ecdp’s ongoing efforts to ensure efficiency for our clients, and in
response to feedback from ecdp pass clients, we are now offering
account statements by email (in PDF format).
If you would like to receive your statement digitally, please email
finance@ecdp.co.uk.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 10 of 22

11. local news
News from Zinc Arts
Unique film night at Zinc Arts - part of the Oska Bright festival.
Oska Bright is the original award winning international film
and digital media festival that features work made by people
with a learning disability.
Zinc is proud to be hosting a unique film night produced by
Oska Bright as part of the film festival’s national tour on
Friday 19 October. The first screening will take place from 1pm-3pm
and the second from 6pm-8pm. It costs £2 to attend one screening or
£3 to attend both.
The screenings feature the very best of films made by people with a
learning disability.
If you would like to book a ticket, please register your interest on the
Zinc Arts website or call them on 01277 365626. Alternatively, you
can visit the Oska Bright website for more information on this and
other film screenings as part of the festival.
Zinc Arts: Creative Plus Programme
Zinc Arts have teamed up with Essex County Council’s Adult
Community Learning to launch an exciting new programme of
creative courses and activities that are accessible to all! The
Creative Plus Programme offers adults aged 18 years and over the
opportunity to gain new skills and qualifications, while socialising in
a fun and supportive environment.
Courses including:
 Cookery
 Drama
 Employability and Personal Development Skills
 Functional Skills (Maths, English, ICT)
If you are interested in Zinc’s exciting new programme, follow this link
to download the full Creative Plus brochure: Creative Plus Programme.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
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12. local news
For more information about regular events at Zinc, please see this
leaflet: What’s on at Zinc Arts?
Essex Carers Network Conference
2012: Make it personal
The Essex Carers Network is hosting a conference for families caring
for young people nearing adulthood, or an adult with a learning
disability. The focus of the day will be personalisation.
The event is taking place on Monday 15 October at 9am at the
Salvation Army Citadel in Chelmsford.
To book a place, please contact Sara, by phone: 07906 143 571 or
email: ecn.sara@gmail.com
For more information see the PDF on the ecdp website or the Essex
Info website.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 12 of 22

13. national news
World Mental Health Day
Today is World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health
issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and
investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. This
year the theme for the day is Depression, which affects 1 in 10 people
in the UK and more than 350 million people worldwide.
To coincide with World Mental Health Day, the
World Health Organisation have produced an
animated video about depression, which you can
view on the ecdp website. The short video by
Matthew Johnstone, who has written, illustrated
and narrated it, features a black dog which serves
as a metaphor for the mental disorder. (from The
Independent)
Each year the Mental Health Foundation run a campaign around the
particular mental health issue the event aims to organise. You can
read about the work they are doing to highlight the impact of
depression on the MHF website.
In recent years, some major campaigns have aimed to raise
awareness of mental health issues and the stigma faced by those with
them. Most notably, the Time to Change campaign, run by the mental
health organisations Mind and Rethink. Time to Change encourages
people to talk about mental health.
Locally, the North Essex Partnership Foundation Trust are holding the
‘extra mile for mental health’ event in Chelmsford’s central park.
If you would like to share details or pictures from any events you have
been involved with to mark World Mental Health Day, please contact
Faye at ecdp: fsavage@ecdp.co.uk.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41 Page 13 of 22

14. national news
Esther McVey appointed Minister for
Disabled People
Esther McVey has been appointed as the Minister for Disabled
People in the Ministerial reshuffle.
Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey said:
The DWP is delivering some of the most important
reforms in Government. Supporting disabled people to
live fulfilling lives and restoring fairness to the welfare
system is vital. I am delighted to be joining the
Department at such a crucial time.
Former Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller, has replaced
Jeremy Hunt as Culture Secretary.
To read the full press release about the appointment, please
see the DWP website.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 14 of 22

15. national news
Fulfilling Potential: Government
publishes next steps
During September the Government published two important
documents, regarding their commitment to enable disabled
people to fulfil their potential and play a full role in society.
These follow the Fulfilling Potential consultation which ecdp and
our members, along with many other DPULOs and individual
disabled people across the country, contributed to.
You can read the response ecdp coproduced with disabled
people in Essex, and about how we did this, on our website:
Fulfilling Potential – ecdp response.
The two documents published last month set out the discussions
which have taken place so far, based on the consultation
which took place at the start of this year and some of the
steps which are now going to be taken based on these.
Fulfilling Potential - the Discussions So Far
The first document summarises the discussions that have
taken place between the Office for Disability Issues (ODI)
and disabled people and their organisations so far. It also
aims to highlight actions already planned and actions
underway across Government.
Fulfilling Potential – Next Steps
The second document published outlines the Government’s strategic
narrative and areas for action. It sets out the principles that will guide
the Government’s future work in supporting disabled people to realise
their aspirations, promote a fair and equal society and create more
inclusive communities. Key elements of this work will be:
 a new cross sector disability action alliance involving disabled
people, their organisations, and others from the public, private and
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
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16. national news
voluntary and community sectors working together to identify and
deliver the change needed to bring about equality of opportunity
for disabled people
 public service reform which will support disabled people’s
independence and participation
 a new partnership approach which will see disabled people having
much more influence in the design and delivery of services, so
they are better able to challenge where things are not delivering
the outcomes they need.
Are your CRB checks up to date for your employees?
If you employ Personal Assistants (PAs) or carers, you may wish to
take advantage of ecdp’s free and efficient CRB service.
While the direct fee to the Criminal Record Bureau still applies,
ecdp do not charge an admin fee, making it considerably cheaper
for you to CRB check your staff.
For more information, please contact the ecdp Admin Team on
01245 392310 or email CRB@ecdp.co.uk
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 16 of 22

17. national news
Guide Dogs Week 2012: 'walk my way'
At Guide Dogs, we believe blind and partially sighted people
should be able to get out and about on their own terms, like
everyone else. There’s a lot we can do to help make this
possible - and we need your help to spread the word.
For this years Guide Dogs Week (6-14 October 2012), the charity want
to raise awareness of the obstacles blind and partially sighted people
face every day, and what can be done to get rid of them. To get the
message across, they’re asking people to take up the challenge to
‘Walk my Way’ for Guide dogs.
There are many different ways that you can ‘Walk my Way’ and when
you get there, Guide Dogs will send you a certificate for your efforts!
You’re welcome to hold any type of event, but the Guide Dogs website
has some good suggestions. The important thing is to have fun and
spread the message that Guide Dogs’ work transforms lives.
You can have a look at Guide Dogs and their fundraising ideas and
resources for inspiration here: Guide Dogs Week: Walk my Way.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 17 of 22

18. national news
Tell Mind which mental health issues
are most important to you
The mental health charity, Mind, want you to tell them
which mental health issues are most important to you.
During the party conferences, Mind will be talking to MPs
about the changes people want to see in mental health,
and this is your opportunity to inform which issues are top
of the list.
You can vote by visiting the Mind website.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 18 of 22

19. national news
Campaigns & Communication Officer
job at Inclusion London
Inclusion London is a pan-London Deaf and disabled people’s
organisation. We provide a range of capacity building support to
London’s Deaf and disabled peoples organisations (DDPOs) and
work to ensure the views, needs and interests of Deaf and
disabled people, and their organisations, are heard at a strategic
policy level.
Inclusion London are seeking to recruit a Campaigns and
Communication Officer.
We are looking for an experienced campaigner/lobbyist with an in-
depth understanding and knowledge of campaigning issues, the
legislative process and the range of opportunities available to influence
the democratic process through campaigning, lobbying and the media.
You will be providing a range of support to enable London DDPOs and
their users and members to carry out effective campaigning, lobbying
and media communication work on issues relating to cuts and the
rights and inclusion of Deaf and disabled people and their
organisations.
You will also have extensive media experience, great communication
and project management skills, a passionate commitment to equality
for Deaf and disabled people and a proven ability to work in an
accessible and inclusive way.
Inclusion London particularly encourage Deaf/disabled people to
apply.
 Closing date for applications: 5pm on 15 October
 Interviews: Friday 26 October
 Part-time:14 hrs per week.
 Salary: £35,053 pro rata
You can download the application pack below or download it from the
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 19 of 22

20. national news
Inclusion London website. For more information or any queries, please
contact libby.oakley@inclusionlondon.co.uk
 Person specification and job description
 Data consent form
 Equal opportunities monitoring form
 Application guidance notes
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
Page 20 of 22

21. national news
The workforce implications of adults
and older people who self-fund and
employ their own care and
support workers
Breakthrough UK, a disabled people’s user led organisation, is
conducting a study on behalf of Skills for Care. They would like to
speak to people who pay for some or all of the care they receive,
using their own money or savings. These people are sometimes
called self funders.
The study looks at how people pay for their care and the types of care
and support services they receive. They would also like to know about
the support self funders have, how they find it, and whether they would
benefit from more support in their role as employers of Personal
Assistants.
On the ecdp website you can find an information sheet which
describes what taking part in the study will involve. If you would like
more information, please contact Elaine Astley at Breakthrough UK Ltd
by phone 0161 273 5412 or email e.astley@breakthrough-uk.co.uk.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
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22. national news
Share your lived experience through
the Skills for Care advisory group
As you might know, ecdp has been working closely with
Skills for Care to ensure people who employ their own
Personal Assistants have the right kind of support.
An example of this is letting you know about the National
Minimum Data Set for Social Care, which can provide you with
invaluable information and funding for training your PAs. (You can find
out more here: the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care.)
The Department of Health has given Skills for Care the job of
implementing the Personal Assistant Framework. In undertaking this
task it is very important to Skills for Care that they take advantage of
the widest possible consultation. They have therefore set up a Sector
Advisory Group.
Members of this group will have many roles including informing
directing and advising on how the work around the PA Framework
should be done.
There are no limitations to who can join the group and there are no
expectations as to how much time and involvement volunteers can
give to the task. It is also up to volunteers to decide which areas they
are most interested in getting involved with.
If you would be interested in learning more and/or registering your
interest in being part of the Sector Advisory Group please contact
Skills for Care on paframework@skillsforcare.org.uk or 0113 241
1275.
The Sector Advisory Group is a virtual group and members will be
contacted from time to time to be involved in the implementation of the
PA Framework, or other areas of Skills for Care’s work.
October 2012: Monthly Bulletin 41
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